Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Amazing April: Seven Games to Look Out for This Month

April has arrived, and spring is in full bloom. This month has seven games that SuperPhillip Central has its collective eye on, and ones that we recommend you look into. From DC Comics brawlers to a game inspired by Monster Hunter, these titles seem to be the best that April has to offer. Note: 1) These release dates posted are for North American use, and 2) These release dates are what was planned at the time of this article. Games can always be delayed.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (PS3, 360)

Release Date: 4/2

Releasing today is a game that was thought to be a Wii U exclusive. However, Nintendo only distributed the game rather than assisting in the development like they did with LEGO City Undercover. Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is essentially Team Ninja's "redo of" or "another shot at" the original Ninja Gaiden 3. This time around extremities can be cut off, more weapons, new downloadable characters like Ayane, and a new Chapter Challenge mode to increase the replay value of the game. It's great that more people get to play this improved version of Ninja Gaiden 3, and they can do it starting today.

Injustice: Gods Among Us (Multi)

Release Date: 4/16

Take your favorite DC Comics superheroes and villains and put them into a 2D fighter with 3D graphics, and you get Injustice: Gods Among Us, a game coming to Wii U, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in the middle of the month. Each fighter has their own unique traits to help them out in battle, arenas are multi-tiered, and the story mode will feature multiple chapters and characters the player assumes the roles of. No doubt comic book fans are looking forward to making some interesting match-ups, and even those with little knowledge of the DC universe will find something to enjoy with Injustice: Gods Among Us.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner -

Soul Hackers (3DS)

Release Date: 4/16

Handhelds this generation have not really had the influx of RPGs that their predecessors had. The situation is better in Japan, but the localized RPGs from there that come to the West are few and far in-between. This month the Nintendo 3DS gets the incredibly wordy Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Soul Hackers, a first-person dungeon crawler RPG set in a world that is a mixture of cyberpunk and something out of an Edgar Allen Poe poem. There's no word on when this game is coming to our European pals, but North American gamers can add a new RPG to their collection on April 16.

LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins (3DS)

Release Date: 4/21

The prequel to the Wii U's phenomenal LEGO City Undercover, the 3DS game, LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins looks into protagonist Chase McCain's entry into the LEGO City police force. Contrary to what was believed when the game was originally announced, The Chase Begins will in fact be open-world, with obvious graphical downgrades when compared to its Wii U big brother. We at SuperPhillip Central very much enjoyed the original LEGO City, so we have our eyes on The Chase Begins when it releases April 21.

Dead Island: Riptide (Multi)

Release Date: 4/23

Zombies seem to never get tiring to some people. We've seen multiple Resident Evil games and now The Walking Dead on AMC is as popular as ever. It only makes sense to make more games with the undead brethren that people just cannot seem to get enough of. With a story that picks up where the original Dead Island left off, action RPG mayhem combined with the survival horror genre, and an island infested with zombies, Dead Island: Riptide will place players not in a tropical paradise, but in a tropical hell, two words that most don't put together. These attributes make for a game that intrigues SuperPhillip Central staff, and will no doubt intrigue consumers when it releases late this month.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen (PS3, 360)

Release Date: 4/23

If you didn't get enough of Capcom's Dragon's Dogma that released last year, then prepare your swords, bows, and other weapons for Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, a retail release expansion of the original game. This action RPG title features an open world setting with gameplay similar to what you'd expect a cross between Monster Hunter and Dark Souls would be. The game has a slew of Capcom development all-stars on board, including folks who worked on games like Resident Evil 4, the original Devil May Cry trilogy, and Breath of Fire. If you missed playing the original, I can think of no better way to get introduced to the world of Dragon's Dogma than with Dark Arisen.

Soul Sacrifice (PSV)

Release Date: 4/30

I mentioned Monster Hunter in my Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen blurb. Well, here is a game that is without question inspired by Capcom's hot-selling series. The man who co-created Mega Man, Keiji Inafune, is also the brains behind this upcoming PlayStation Vita exclusive, Soul Sacrifice. The game already released in Japan to increased weekly Vita sales. Here's hoping the West gives the system a similar treatment. The four player co-op, massive amount of... well... massive monsters, and wide variety of attacks make for a game that might just be a killer app for the handheld that is struggling to find footing in the marketplace. Soul Sacrifice releases at the end of this month.

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Also worth note this month is the release of Pandora's Tower, which we mistakenly put in last month's offering of titles to look out for. You can see the blurb written for the game here. Are there any games that you are looking forward to this month that we left out? Let us know in the comments section.